Sometimes life demands a challenge — a stretching of our limits — like we find in this remote hiking trail in North Carolina. The difficult and rugged Slickrock Creek Trail is about 12 miles point-to-point near Robbinsville with the benefit of a pretty waterfall. It is the longest single trail in the Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness area. Are you up for this hike?

This trail is considered one of the most difficult in North Carolina and has been rated one of the 10 toughest trails in the United States.
Cheoah Dam, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA
Omar Sassin/AllTrails
The trailhead is located just off U.S. Route 129 at the Cheoah Dam and bridge, north of Robbinsville.
And the brush can be thick.
Nancy Roberts/AllTrails
Pants and a good tick repellant are advised.
The trail starts pretty easy but gets trickier and more technical to follow as we climb further up the creek.
Dan Ward/AllTrails
This wild, rushing stream runs deep in the mountains just south of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Kevin Click/AllTrails

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A dozen colorful stream crossings add to the beauty and the challenge of the hike.
Dan Ward/AllTrails
But there should only be one creek crossing between the trailhead and Lower Falls.
Nancy Roberts/AllTrails
The falls are a welcome break from our work through the arduous, forested maze.
John Goodwin/AllTrails
We love to take a dip in the refreshing swimming hole, a perfect place for lunch.
Near the end, some of the thorny bushes are overgrown which can make for a difficult experience.
Griff Kerstine/AllTrails
Also, some bears have been spotted in this area, so be on the lookout.

For more information about this remote hiking trail in North Carolina, visit AllTrails’ Slickrock Creek Trail web page. Come prepared by first practicing longer, more difficult hikes.

And while you’re in Robbinsville, channel your inner pioneer by spending the night at this covered wagon resort.

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Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, Robbinsville, NC 28771, USA